Community health workers awarded

Community Health Workers were officially recognized for their greatest contribution in taking care of Rwandans by improving access to health services by bringing services closer to the communities.

These health workers helps in tracking pregnant women and newborns, promoting early detection of life threatening emergencies, and facilitating in reporting on community level indicators relevant to Millennium Development Goals four and five including reducing the maternal and infant mortality by increasing the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel.

The event in Gicumbi district, Rukomo sector was presided over by the Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba while closing the health week campaign where she applauded community health workers for their role in reducing maternal and infant mortalities and urged the citizens to listen carefully to the advice given by these workers.

All Community health workers around the country were given crisp blue coats as their uniform, badges and kits of tools to help them in their day to day activities.

Jean Claude Mbarushimana, a community health worker from Gicumbi district, Rukomo sector said that these tools are going to help them to perform well their duties because of the full kit of primary equipments, uniforms which will easily make them identifiable in case someone requires health elated services.

Since 13th March, in all districts communities and stakeholders were sensitized on the mother and child healthcare, the fight against malaria, non communicable diseases, malnutrition, intestinal worms and other infections related to poor hygiene, family planning, prevention of gender based violence and sensitization on early attendance of antenatal care and delivery at health facilities.